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San Jose Tennis Coach Presumed Dead After Skydiving Accident

A San Jose high school tennis coach is missing and presumed dead after a skydiving accident last week in New Zealand, police and high school officials said. Ian Cull reports. (Published Monday, Jan. 15, 2018)

A San Jose high school tennis coach is missing and presumed dead after a skydiving accident last week in New Zealand, police and high school officials said.

Tyler Nii appears to have died last Wednesday after he plunged into Lake Wakatipu in the South Island of the country.

Nii, 27, was a tennis coach at Archbishop Mitty High School, according to a Facebook post Friday by the school's department of athletics.

"Tyler Nii, beloved coach of our men's and women's tennis programs passed away this week in a tragic accident," the post said. "All of us: players, coaches, friends and colleagues are saddened by this loss."

On Thursday morning, police were deciding whether to use sonar to find Nii's body.

The high school will hold a prayer service Wednesday for a coach that really meant so much to the campus and tennis community. Friends say Nii was full of energy with a great attitude, someone you always want to be around ... and adventurous.

"His personality is just infectious," Archbishop Mitty Athletic Director Brian Eagleson said. "Right off the bat, he makes kids feel comfortable, makes you want to be part of the tennis program, makes it a great experience."